Power Cooker Frequently Asked Questions

Using a power cooker to prepare your meals removes a lot of prep time and cook time. Cooking using pressure can be confusing for some, especially those who have never done so before. If you are trying to decide whether or not to start cooking with a pressure cooker, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the method.

 

Capacity

 

The capacity of a power cooker ranges from six to eight quarts. Just remember that you should never completely fill a power cooker with food or liquid. This will not leave enough room for the steam to cook the food.

 

Time and Pressure

 

Both cooking time and pressure can be adjusted in pressure cookers. You can choose to manually adjust the cooking time on a cooker or choose a predetermined cook time for the food group you are cooking. The pressure can also be changed as most cookers have pressure that ranges from 10-80 kPa.

 

Brown and Saute Food

 

What many don’t realize is that pressure cookers can also brown and saute food. This is done by pressing the “Brown” button when the lid is off and prior to the food being pressurized. You can also saute food by selecting a preset button while the lid is off the cooker.

 

Rice

 

Pressure cookers can be used to cook rice. Most units have a button specifically for rice. Others have a setting for rice and then sub settings for white rice, brown rice and wild rice. Each sub setting has a specific time and pressure used for cooking the rice.

 

Pressure

 

Those who haven’t used power cookers before might not know when the food has been pressurized. When pressure has been reached, the zeroes on the screen will stop rotating and the cook time countdown will begin. You can remove the lid from the cooker when all the pressure has been released. If you cannot remove the lid, it means the pressure has not been released. Do not force the lid open. This can be very dangerous.

Two Great Pressure Cooker Recipes to Try This Fall

Power pressure cooking is a simple, convenient way for preparing delicious, wholesome meals in minimal time. From pot roasts to soups to stews, you can whip up all kinds of amazing dishes with electric pressure cookers. And, as the weather is cooling down, now is the perfect time to take advantage of your pressure cooker. Stay warm this season with these great power pressure cooker recipes for fall. They feature some of the most popular ingredients of the season, including pumpkin, apples and squash. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seeds

Recipe courtesy of PowerPressureCooker.com

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked pumpkin
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup cider
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 onion, peeled and diced
• 3 apples, cored and quartered
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon butter

Cooking Instructions:

Prepared using the Power Pressure Cooker XL

• Put the inner pot in the Power Pressure Cooker XL. Add the butter to the inner pot and press the CHICKEN/MEAT button.
• Add the onions and carrots and cook for 10 minutes.
• Except for the cream and pumpkin seeds, add the remaining ingredients, stirring well. Press the CANCEL button.
• Close and lock the lid on the pressure cooker. Switch the pressure release valve to closed.
• Press the SOUP/STEW button and set the time to 10 minutes.
• When the timer reaches 0, the pressure cooker will automatically switch to KEEP WARM. Press the CANCEL button, and change the pressure release valve to open. Once the steam has completely released, take off the lid.
• Stir in the cream. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds and serve.

Butternut, Chard & White Bean Soup

Recipe courtesy of Black Radish

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large carrot, chopped medium
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 16 ounces dried white beans
• 2 cups butternut squash, diced
• 4 swiss chard leaves, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1-2 cup chicken stock for thinning soup
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 cup crouton
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

• Add the olive oil, onion, celery and carrot to the pot. Sauté the vegetables until they have softened, but try not to let them brown.
• Add the white beans, rosemary sprig, thyme sprig, chicken stock and pepper. Bring the pressure to 15lbs and cook for 35 minutes. (The beans should be almost soft but still have a small bite to them).
• Use the quick-release, cold water method to open the lid. Add the butternut squash, garlic, fresh rosemary, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Put the lid on the pressure cooker and cook for 10 more minutes using the natural release method.
• Make sure the beans are completely soft. Stir in the chard greens right before serving. If the soup is too thick, use the remaining chicken stock to thin the soup.
• Pull out the stems of the thyme and rosemary. Serve with a spoonful of sour cream and croutons.

5 Things to Know About Power Pressure Cooking

Power pressure cookers are useful kitchen appliances that can prepare wholesome meals in minimal time. With an electric pressure cooker, you can make all the home-style meals you love, while saving your precious time and conserving energy. Whether you’re someone who loves to cook or someone who has little cooking experience, you can greatly benefit from a power pressure cooking. Read on to learn more about the perks of pressure cooking.

1. Power pressure cooking is fast and convenient – Electric pressure cookers prepare incredibly delicious and wholesome meals up to 10 times faster than traditional cooking methods do. They help you save time on prep work, cooking and cleanup. There are many one-pot electric pressure cooker recipes, which makes prep time and cleanup a breeze. You can simply place all the ingredients you need into the pot, and afterwards you only have one pot to clean. By the time you set the table and get your family gathered in the kitchen, your meal will be ready to enjoy.

2. You can cook virtually anything – You can use your electric pressure cooker to prepare virtually anything – from soups and stews, to meats and seafood, to rice and vegetables, to deserts and jellies. No matter what you and your family are craving, you can have slow-cooked meals ready and on the table to enjoy in little time.

3. Power pressure cookers are incredibly easy to use – Electric pressure cookers are very easy to use. You don’t have to be experienced at cooking to use one. Pressure cookers only involve a few easy steps, and you don’t have to worry about tending to multiple pans on a stovetop.

4. Power pressure cookers conserve energy – An electric pressure cooker prepares foods about 70% faster, and you only have to use one pot. This results in great energy savings, which can also help you save on your monthly utility bill.

5. Foods maintain their valuable nutrients – Power pressure cooking requires less liquid and a shorter cooking time than other cooking methods do. As a result, electric pressure cookers retain food’s valuable nutrients, as well as their delicious flavor.

With a power pressure cooker, you can prepare delicious, healthy meals with ease. Order your pressure cooker today to enjoy these great advantages of pressure cooking.

Basic Tips for Successful Pressure Cooking

You can cook practically anything in an electric pressure cooker, from vegetables and rice to meat and seafood to desserts. A power pressure cooker is incredibly convenient and simple to use and cooks food up to 10 times faster than conventional cooking methods, allowing you to save time and energy. Get the most out of your electric pressure cooker with these helpful tips:

Add the right amount of liquid

One of the major advantages of an electric pressure cooker is it retains the precious nutrients and flavors of food. This is because of the short cooking time, as well as its ability to use less liquid. In a pressure cooker, foods are enclosed in a covered pot, so there is less evaporation. Therefore, recipes call for less water than conventional cooking methods do. Refer to the recipe, as well as the electric pressure cooker’s manual to see how much liquid to use. A good rule of thumb is to use at least 1 cup of liquid and to never fill the cooker more than half way with liquid.

Don’t overfill the pressure cooker

While you should never fill the pressure cooker more than half way with liquid, you also want to avoid filling it more than ⅔ full with food. As well as this, do not pack food tightly into the cooker. By not following these basic pressure cooking rules, the pressure cooker won’t work efficiently and the food may not come out right.

Quick or natural release?

Once the food is finished cooking, the pressure needs to be released from the pot. This can be done by either quick release or natural release, and the method you use will depend on what you are cooking.

• Quick release involves releasing the pressure immediately after the food has finished cooking. Depending on your electric pressure cooker, you can do this by lifting, turning or pressing its pressure release valve. This method is commonly used for foods that don’t benefit from additional cooking time.
• Natural release allows the pressure to drop from the electric pressure cooker gradually. Natural release doesn’t require you to do anything; rather the pressure drops automatically. This method is ideal foods that foam during cooking. Many models will tell you when all the pressure has been released.

By following these basic rules for pressure cooking, you’ll be able to get the most out of your electric pressure cooker and enjoy delicious, home-style meals any time you want.